Unravelling the Shohei Ohtani embezzlement scandal
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is set to address the media regarding allegations of theft against his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. The Major League Baseball and the Internal Revenue Service are investigating claims of “massive theft” involving millions of dollars and betting activities with a bookmaker under federal scrutiny. The controversy has cast a shadow over MLB’s new season and raised concerns about the relationship between professional sports and gambling. Ohtani’s lawyers have accused Mizuhara of the theft, which has been denied by the bookmaker’s attorney, stating Mizuhara never bet on baseball. The investigation follows reports of substantial wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank accounts, with at least $4.5 million being withdrawn, though the details of the theft remain unclear. The situation has garnered significant attention as Ohtani begins his tenure with the Dodgers.
MLB and Prosecutors: A spokesperson has confirmed that Major League Baseball (MLB) has not been contacted by prosecutors regarding the investigation.
Bowyer’s Legal Status: Diane Bass, the attorney representing Mathew Bowyer, has stated that her client has not been charged with any crime. Despite this, federal agents conducted a raid on Bowyer’s residence in San Juan Capistrano as part of the ongoing investigation.
Bowyer and Ohtani: Diane Bass has also clarified that Mathew Bowyer has never had any form of contact with Shohei Ohtani, directly contradicting any claims of interaction between the two.
Investigation Oversight: The U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles, which is responsible for overseeing the investigation, has not provided any comments in response to inquiries.
MLB Gambling Policy: The MLB gambling policy strictly prohibits all players, umpires, club or league officials, and employees from engaging in betting activities on baseball games or participating in illegal betting on other sports. The consequences for violating this policy by gambling with an illegal bookmaker or their representative are not explicitly defined in the MLB rules. Instead, the penalty is determined by the Commissioner based on the specific facts and circumstances of the misconduct.
Bowyer’s Investigation: The investigation into Mathew Bowyer is being conducted by the same prosecution team that is also investigating a large-scale illegal sports gambling operation based in Orange County. This broader investigation has already led to charges against multiple individuals, including former Dodger Yasiel Puig, who has pleaded not guilty. The operation in question was reportedly led by Wayne Nix, a former minor league baseball player from Newport Beach.
Bowyer’s Alleged Marketing Claims: According to a source, Mathew Bowyer has boasted to associates in Las Vegas about having a connection to Shohei Ohtani, which he allegedly used for marketing his purported bookmaking business.
ESPN Report on Ohtani and Mizuhara: Following the publication of The Times’ article, ESPN reported that an unnamed spokesperson for Ohtani initially claimed that the baseball player was settling gambling debts for his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, with Mathew Bowyer. However, this account was later retracted.
Mizuhara’s Background: Ippei Mizuhara, born in Japan and raised in Southern California, is an alumnus of Diamond Bar High School, where he played soccer. He first met Ohtani while serving as an English-language interpreter for American players on the Nippon-Ham Fighters, Ohtani’s team in Japan. Mizuhara became Ohtani’s personal interpreter when Ohtani joined the Angels in 2017 and continued in this role after Ohtani’s move to the Dodgers. Mizuhara has been a close associate of Ohtani throughout his MLB career, often seen together at team facilities and during team travels. Their wives have also reportedly developed a friendship, spending time together during the team’s trip to South Korea.
